Extant

Chapter 15

A few weeks had passed and I've started to slip. Soccer was really kicking off in the school and I couldn't seem to be happy.

As much as I loved going to varsity games and watching everyone, I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that I couldn't play.

On days Alex had practice, I'd get a ride home from my mom.

Speaking of my parents, they are completely okay with Alex staying with us. They adore us whenever we come home hand in hand, or sit on the couch snuggled up together.

I sat in the bleachers watching the team warm up. I was the only person there, but I guess I didn't mind. If I was able to watch Alex, that's all I needed to be okay.

Still, every time the ball left a player's foot, I felt a slight pain in my chest. I tried not to let it get me upset, but it's hard.

It's hard not being able to do the one thing you loved, the thing that you were so good at. I got scouted last year, I had the opportunity for a full ride but I couldn't accept.

In RBS, Leo started training to play soccer again, but I knew it was just a show. For me, it wasn't realistic.

I was robbed of my leg and my identity.

"Hey, what's up?" Ali said, walking over to me on the bleachers. I was surprised to see her here. She had just started coming here the week before.

"Nothing really, how did you know I was here?" I asked as she sat down next to me. She raised an eyebrow at me, as if to say 'really?'.

"You're always with Alex, I would have been shocked if you weren't here." she said, looking back out at the field. I watched as Alex made moves around a defender and got a shot off that Hope couldn't get to.

I couldn't help but smile, knowing that Hope didn't let balls in easily. Ali let out a quick laugh.

"What?" I asked innocently, not sure what was so funny.

"You're absolutely infatuated with her. It's so obvious, but it's cute." she said.

She's not wrong. Alex was a good distraction from my negative emotions.

Don't take it like that, she's not just here to distract me, but you should know what I mean.

I can always think about her and my mind will start to fill with only positive, it's just what she did to people.

"How are you holding up?" she said after a few minutes of silence.

Of course she knew I was off. I've only spent what, over half a year in a hospital with her.

"It's... tough, to say the least." I said simply with a sigh. A gust of wind came through the bleachers, causing Ali to shiver, regardless of the jacket she was wearing.

"Hey, come here." I said with a chuckle, reaching my arms out as if I wanted a hug. She scooted closer, putting her cold body against warn one.

She relaxed into the heat I was giving off. I remember doing this back in the hospital with her and her white, fluffy blanket. I'd say good memories, but we were in a damn hospital after all.

"She's good." Ali said, breaking me from my little daydream. I looked at her and followed her eyes to where she was looking at Alex during the team scrimmage.

She was wearing a yellow pullover and her signature pink wrap headband keeping her hair out of her face. She was definitely working hard, I could see the sweat all the way from here.

She really was something.

"Yeah, she's great." I said, a smile forming without me trying. She had that effect on me, on many people actually.

Ali eventually went back to a building to ask a teacher about a class. I was waiting outside the locker room for Alex when practice was over.

I leaned up against the wall next to all of the pictures of school teams going to state.

"My favorite disabled prick. What an unpleasant surprise."

Of fucking course.

"I really don't have time to listen to your shit, so save your precious little air." I countered at the boy.

"Hey now freak, remember who has all their limbs." he said with a sickening smile.

"And remember who still beat your ass without one of them? Last I checked your tiny dick was supposed to be in your pants, not your personality."

That really got to him. He started to talk towards me, fists balled up in his rage. He swung and missed, hitting the wall behind me.

I wasn't about to get in a fight with this kid. He was about to swing again when I heard a very familiar voice.

"Hey, step away from my player."

Her voice rang loud in my ears, the memories of that same voice telling me to run faster, work harder.

Servando​ looked at my coach, then went to the boy's locker room. I was left there with her, and the elephant in the room.

I knew she would probably be disappointed with me.

Disappointed that I just suddenly left and never told anyone. Disappointed I didn't try out this year.

Disappointed that I'm not on her team.

"So Heath. I've heard the locker room buzzing about you. I'm glad to know that you really are back. I figured it was you in the bleachers." she said, her eyes as intense as they would be during half time of a tight game.

"Yeah." was all I managed to muster up. I was almost afraid of what was to come. I've been dreading he day I'd have to see my coach again.

Suddenly she hugged me, which was something I've never seen her do before. She squeezed me tightly and then let go. Her hands still on my arms.

"I know soccer was your identity Tobin, and I can't imagine how you feel now that you aren't playing the game. Just know that I'm here, and that you're welcome anytime. You're still always going to be part of the team."

All I could do is smile. Half of me wanted to be really happy, half of me wanted to cry. I'll just blame the second part on my god damn shark week.

Alex saved me, walking out of the locker room and into the hallway. She came up to me, also giving me an embrace.

A some-what sweaty embrace but I'll take it. Lord knows I've dealt with this sweaty girl during games before.

"Hey megastar."

"Megastar? What does that even mean? No one says that." she countered with a laugh.

"Superstar is overused and it sounds gross." I said, getting her to crack a smile.

We said goodbye to the coach awkwardly standing there with us and made our way to her car. Before we got moving she checked hey phone.

"Oh my." she said, hey eyebrows drawn in and a frown on her face as she looked at her phone.

"What's up?" I asked, wanting to know the cause of her sudden switch in mood.

"My parents want me to bring Tobin to dinner with me since I've been spending so much time with him." she said with a growing concern in her voice.

"Oh. My."

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A/N:

hey what up, it's ya boi Tobin who's actually a girl